Police shoot, kill robbery suspect on I-95 in Port Orange

Published: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 11:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 9:27 p.m.

PORT ORANGE — Police shot and killed a 22-year-old robbery suspect Wednesday on Interstate 95 when he “displayed” a gun after crashing a stolen van as he was chased by Port Orange officers, officials said.

The confrontation which left Luke Castello of South Daytona dead on the shoulder of northbound I-95 just north of Dunlawton Avenue happened near motorists who had slowed for the parked police cars.

Gerald Monahan, Port Orange director of public safety, didn't elaborate on how the gun was “displayed” or what type it was, and he said he didn't know if Castello fired a shot.

“Our officers approached the vehicle, a gun was displayed by the suspect. Our officers fired and killed the suspect,” Monahan said.

Six Port Orange police officers were at the scene, but Monahan said he could not say how many fired their weapons or how many shots were fired.

Also near the scene was Ruth Oneufer, a Daytona Beach News-Journal page designer who had just gotten onto I-95 at Dunlawton. Oneufer and a handful of other drivers slowed down as they neared the line of police cars parked along the right side of the interstate.

“I thought it was just a wreck, so I wasn't too worried until I heard the shots,” Oneufer said.

She took cover, scrunching down. But she could not see who or what police were firing at, she said.

“It was just a brief explosion of gunfire, just a bunch of shots that were real close together,” she said.

She worried about her two dogs in the back of her car.

“I was afraid they were up too high and they were going to get hit,” she said.

She said she heard about 15 gunshots. After the shooting stopped, Oneufer said she saw police officers putting on traffic vests.

“When I saw them get out and start putting on the yellow traffic vests and not wearing the Kevlar, I thought we were safe,” said Oneufer, who was questioned by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent.

As she was waved on by police, she saw a vehicle in a ditch and emergency crews with a stretcher nearby but did not see a body.

The names of the officers — some who performed CPR on Castello beside the stolen van — have not been released and the FDLE is investigating, as is routine. All the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, also routine in officer-involved shootings.

Daytona Beach police had been looking for Castello since they were called about 9:13 a.m. Wednesday to a report of an armed robbery and attempted kidnapping at the Heritage Inn, a motel known for crime problems on South Ridgewood Avenue. Castello had checked into room 15 with two others, Dennis Johnson and Brittany Brooks. But afterward, Castello drew a gun on Johnson and Brooks and handed them flex ties to bind themselves, a police report states.

Castello then took $1,000 from Johnson and snatched Brooks' pink purse containing $100. He found the spare key to Brooks' van and ordered that they put shirts over their flex cuffs as they walked to the van or he would shoot them, the report shows. Castello said he was going to take them to some woods and dump the van elsewhere.

But Johnson ran to the front desk for help. Castello got nervous and went back into his room. That's when Brooks got out of the van and ran away. Castello got in the van and drove away, pointing a gun at Johnson who had run out to see if Brooks was in the van, the report states. Castello had a gun but also took two firearms from Johnson, according to the police report. Johnson said he didn't know what kind of guns they were because he bought them on the street, the report states.

Daytona Beach police issued a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Castello and the stolen van.

Port Orange police spotted the van about 10:45 a.m. near Spruce Creek and Taylor roads. Officers followed it until it appeared Castello was going to stop in the Port Orange Walmart parking lot. But when police activated their emergency lights, Castello fled.

He headed north on Clyde Morris, west on Dunlawton and north on I-95. Castello hit speeds of more than 80 mph as he headed north on the interstate. He then lost control and crashed on the east shoulder.

Six Port Orange police officers confronted him and opened fire after Monahan said Castello displayed a weapon. The shooting closed northbound 95 for about two hours, snarling traffic.

Castello had prior arrests. In May 2013, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor sale/possession of a firearm w/serial number altered/removed.

In July 2013, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor criminal mischief greater than $200 but less than $1,000.

Castello's family members did not want to talk much when they walked out of a house with a manicured lawn in the Bryan Cave Estates in South Daytona.

Mindy Castello, 17, said her brother got involved in drugs.

“He was awesome but he liked drugs too much,” Mindy Castello said. “So you should just stay away from drugs.”

<p>PORT ORANGE — Police shot and killed a 22-year-old robbery suspect Wednesday on Interstate 95 when he “displayed” a gun after crashing a stolen van as he was chased by Port Orange officers, officials said.</p><p>The confrontation which left Luke Castello of South Daytona dead on the shoulder of northbound I-95 just north of Dunlawton Avenue happened near motorists who had slowed for the parked police cars.</p><p>Gerald Monahan, Port Orange director of public safety, didn't elaborate on how the gun was “displayed” or what type it was, and he said he didn't know if Castello fired a shot. </p><p>“Our officers approached the vehicle, a gun was displayed by the suspect. Our officers fired and killed the suspect,” Monahan said. </p><p>Six Port Orange police officers were at the scene, but Monahan said he could not say how many fired their weapons or how many shots were fired. </p><p>Also near the scene was Ruth Oneufer, a Daytona Beach News-Journal page designer who had just gotten onto I-95 at Dunlawton. Oneufer and a handful of other drivers slowed down as they neared the line of police cars parked along the right side of the interstate. </p><p>“I thought it was just a wreck, so I wasn't too worried until I heard the shots,” Oneufer said. </p><p>She took cover, scrunching down. But she could not see who or what police were firing at, she said.</p><p>“It was just a brief explosion of gunfire, just a bunch of shots that were real close together,” she said.</p><p>She worried about her two dogs in the back of her car.</p><p>“I was afraid they were up too high and they were going to get hit,” she said.</p><p>She said she heard about 15 gunshots. After the shooting stopped, Oneufer said she saw police officers putting on traffic vests. </p><p>“When I saw them get out and start putting on the yellow traffic vests and not wearing the Kevlar, I thought we were safe,” said Oneufer, who was questioned by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent.</p><p>As she was waved on by police, she saw a vehicle in a ditch and emergency crews with a stretcher nearby but did not see a body.</p><p>The names of the officers — some who performed CPR on Castello beside the stolen van — have not been released and the FDLE is investigating, as is routine. All the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, also routine in officer-involved shootings.</p><p>Daytona Beach police had been looking for Castello since they were called about 9:13 a.m. Wednesday to a report of an armed robbery and attempted kidnapping at the Heritage Inn, a motel known for crime problems on South Ridgewood Avenue. Castello had checked into room 15 with two others, Dennis Johnson and Brittany Brooks. But afterward, Castello drew a gun on Johnson and Brooks and handed them flex ties to bind themselves, a police report states. </p><p>Castello then took $1,000 from Johnson and snatched Brooks' pink purse containing $100. He found the spare key to Brooks' van and ordered that they put shirts over their flex cuffs as they walked to the van or he would shoot them, the report shows. Castello said he was going to take them to some woods and dump the van elsewhere.</p><p>But Johnson ran to the front desk for help. Castello got nervous and went back into his room. That's when Brooks got out of the van and ran away. Castello got in the van and drove away, pointing a gun at Johnson who had run out to see if Brooks was in the van, the report states. Castello had a gun but also took two firearms from Johnson, according to the police report. Johnson said he didn't know what kind of guns they were because he bought them on the street, the report states.</p><p>Daytona Beach police issued a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Castello and the stolen van.</p><p>Port Orange police spotted the van about 10:45 a.m. near Spruce Creek and Taylor roads. Officers followed it until it appeared Castello was going to stop in the Port Orange Walmart parking lot. But when police activated their emergency lights, Castello fled. </p><p>He headed north on Clyde Morris, west on Dunlawton and north on I-95. Castello hit speeds of more than 80 mph as he headed north on the interstate. He then lost control and crashed on the east shoulder.</p><p>Six Port Orange police officers confronted him and opened fire after Monahan said Castello displayed a weapon. The shooting closed northbound 95 for about two hours, snarling traffic.</p><p>Castello had prior arrests. In May 2013, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor sale/possession of a firearm w/serial number altered/removed.</p><p>In July 2013, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor criminal mischief greater than $200 but less than $1,000.</p><p>Castello's family members did not want to talk much when they walked out of a house with a manicured lawn in the Bryan Cave Estates in South Daytona.</p><p>Mindy Castello, 17, said her brother got involved in drugs.</p><p>“He was awesome but he liked drugs too much,” Mindy Castello said. “So you should just stay away from drugs.”</p>